Telecommunications cable upgrade to increase power supply reliability

Forty three kilometres of new fibre optic cable will soon be installed across the Yorke Peninsula as part of a project to increase the reliability of the region’s power supply.

ElectraNet Chief Executive, Steve Masters said one of the key components of delivering a reliable power supply is having a dependable telecommunications network.

“The new cable will be a dedicated ElectraNet telecommunication cable, separate to what is used to provide communication services to the Yorke Peninsula community,” Mr Masters said.

“We’re installing a new fibre optic cable which will give us much better management and control of the region’s electricity transmission network.

“This means our customers across the Yorke Peninsula will have a more reliable power supply through better monitoring of the local network and ElectraNet will have an improved ability to respond to any faults on the transmission network.”

Project contractors will dig a narrow trench and install the cable along ElectraNet’s existing ElectraNet transmission line easement from Hummocks Substation, north of Port Arthur to the Adrossan West Substation.

“Works have been scheduled to minimise community disruption. ElectraNet has also been working with affected landholders and we thank them for their ongoing cooperation,” Mr Masters said.

It is anticipated construction work will begin over the coming weeks and be completed by the end of April. Commissioning and completion of the project is scheduled for the middle of 2018.